Info Request: Valuation of 78s

Subject: Info Request: Valuation of 78s
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 11:15 AM

Hi, All

Perhaps someone can help with this: A friend of mine has some interesting 78s and he'd like to get some idea of what they might be worth.

One item is a 4-platter set of Josh White recordings on Asch Records. The cover has detached from the box, but condition of the artwork on the cover and lyrics along with liner notes (by Langston Hughes) on the inside cover are otherwise in good condition. Liner sleeves are in good condition, too.

The records themselves have some wear, but still appear to be quite playable. The discs are engraved with serial numbers; two I recall were "MA-168" and "MA-170"

I only saw the set briefly, but I do recall that the first side is "One Meat Ball".

The other item is another Asch 78, this one with a partially hand-written label, block-lettering in blue ink, listing Josh White as the artist on one side and listing Burl Ives and Pete Seeger on the other (a rather interesting pairing in itself, given the political and philosophical gulf between the two...). No indication as to what the song(s) might be on either side.

Any suggestions as to where I might find information on current market value of these treasures are greatly appreciated. If anyone would know, I suspect it would be a habitue of the Mudcat!

Many thanks.

Subject: RE: Info Request: Valuation of 78s
From: Gypsy
Date: 12 Aug 02 - 11:27 AM

Try going to Ebay. It might not give you an "actual" value, but would certainly give you an idea of a realistic value.

Subject: RE: Info Request: Valuation of 78s
From: Orac
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 01:01 PM

78's generally are not worth very much. You have to realise that they were made in very large numbers and as so few folks can play them now there are a small number of collectors dipping into a very large pool of records.In England a single 78 in very good condition is only worth between £1 to £3 which is next to nothing. Ebay was mentioned above and a few days ago a lot of 500 78's was being auctioned for only a few dollars. There are a few exceptions for very rare things but in the main they are almost being given away. There is an assumption that because something is old then it must be valuable but in this case its not true.

Subject: RE: Info Request: Valuation of 78s
From: RolyH
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 02:09 PM

You can find that the newest 78's are worth the most money.This is because they were pressed in smaller numbers as they were released alongside the new 45's.They were then gradually phased out by about 1960.

Subject: RE: Info Request: Valuation of 78s
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 07:19 PM

Thanks to all for your feedback. Sounds like his 78s, though arguably rare, have more sentimental than monetary or audial value.

Subject: RE: Info Request: Valuation of 78s
From: johnross
Date: 09 Sep 02 - 10:14 PM

Much of the value of 78s depends on the types of music and whether it has been reissued on LP or CDs. It looks like the Asch Josh White stuff is avaiable from Smithsonian Folkways (Free and Equal Blues, Folkways 40081), so the 78 album is not wildly valuable.

Some collectors might want the original "first edition", but those folks would probably be unhappy about the beat-up cover on the JW album.

As for the other disc, there are Pete Seeger collectors who might pay for original 78s. Not enough to retire on, but maybe as much as $5 or more.

Subject: RE: Info Request: Valuation of 78s
From: Orac
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 12:31 PM

Generally, oddly enough, vynil is worth more than 78s

Subject: RE: Info Request: Valuation of 78s
From: CraigS
Date: 10 Sep 02 - 08:47 PM

I've done some web-fishing - Josh White 78s on Decca seem to fetch 50 cents to $2. There's a couple listed on another label (I think it's Melodynote) which are $3 and $8. Nothing found on Asch - indicates that they might be rare. I'm not posting links because the PDF files involved usually take 5-10 minutes to download, and they'll only say what I've told you. If you really want to look around, start at www.recordfinders.com .

The disc with Pete Seeger, etc. sounds like a radio plugger's special, not intended for general consumption. It also sounds like it might be an acetate, in which case you shouldn't play it except to make a recording of it. Acetates wear out very quickly - 25 plays and they sound like they were recorded in a dustbin by Colonel Sanders.

Generally, 78s are not valuable. Very old 78s (pre 1916) have a period value, 1950s rock and roll/doo wop records are valuable, good jazz and blues records are collected. There is new interest in classical records as the surface noise can now be electronically/digitally removed. Only extremely rare discs will fetch more than $10. There is one exception to all this - Kay Starr 78s usually make $30 - $50 in any playable condition. I have been told that this is because there were never any re-releases on vinyl, but I've had a CD re-release for about five years and I haven't noticed the price dropping.

Subject: RE: Info Request: Valuation of 78s
From: GUEST,matt
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 03:19 PM

three ton of 78s including
rock around the clock bill haley 78
elvis blue suede shoes / tutti fruiti
          my baby left me
          too much
          all shook up
          love me tender
all on his masters voice label
shit or fortune?
thanks